Going to share some lessons learned, taking kids backpacking for the past several years
– I’ve taught for 14 years, coached, student council advisor, etc.
– I love teaching kids, I love our state
– I’ve taken 7th graders on these trips for the past 7 years

Good solution to stress: taking a trip for adventure-based learning

I have learned to NOT let students bring their own dogs
– now my dog is the only one that gets to go
– even with practice we always have kids with lots falling out of their backpacks, off their shoulders

There is a lot of student repoire which is built in these trips

Why should I do an adventure trip for the kids?
– finally be able to answer the question: When am I ever going to use this?
– motivates students to learn and perform
– sharing a passion has power to improve your students quality of life
– improves classroom and school climate
– improves student / teacher and parent / teacher rapport
– good community PR
– it’s fun!

In the 7 years I’ve done this, I’ve received more thanks from parents and kids than anything else I’ve done
– stories of the trip get passed around among the generations

Results?
– I don’t have a graph of test score improvements
– I do have lots of great stories testifying to the impact of this

Climate within my class started to change, especially as it related to the trip

I promised the school board after this trip was approved, I promised to share with the school board the impact of the trip
– this had a big impact with kids who weren’t bought into the trip

Favorite story: Andrew’s moment in the sun (future valedictorian)
– applying his presentation knowledge about heat exhaustion on the trip

Another story: Austin who was not interested in class / school
– he loved fishing
– he worked his tail off to go on the trip
– he ended up helping other kids on the trip, showing them how to fish, building the campfire
– he dropped out at age 16, it may not have changed his life, but it made a connection and we still talk about the trip when I see him in the community

Other kids ask me to borrow backpacks
– happy parents can be your best ally
– can make things a lot easier

Technology portion of the trip

This will all be on the CSPD we bite

Key components
– 3 to 5 letters to parents
– outline the trip
– kids are required to pass every assignment to go on the trip
– communicate early and often
– gear list in 2nd letter
– 3rd letter is final details

Kids often don’t buy into the idea school will get them anything
– kids who don’t see the connection for their learning
– also has immediate consequences for failure
– kids need to recognize how to set goals and work hard
– hardest thing I do each year is talk to the kids and parents who don’t’ get to go

Technology aspect of this project
– we used Google Docs this year
– start with a mini-research project
– have students research two topics and jot down two interesting facts
– others have to respond in a different color to others, then the doc is shared back with me
– as soon as the students start collaborating and interacting, the dynamics in the classroom change

Research project is main aspect
– kids brainstorm what we might need for the trip
– can use Linoit or Google Docs

We write business letters asking for funding for the trip
– in my letter I explain we are really just looking for $5
– kids getting a response

We now write to DSEF (Darby School Excellence Funds)
– kids see writing as power
– rough and final drafts for those letters

Research presentations
– we used Google Presentations this year
– let students work at this at home, PPT not required
– 1 video from an expert was required in their presentation
– next year I’ll also require them to include a video they film

We do thank you letters to the business
– personal touch
– what did you get out of the trip
– what’s neat about all their assignments: they have immediate value to the kids (receiving money, seeing the impact of their presentation applied on the trip, etc)

Possibilities:
– great for co-curriculuar collaborations, get the PE teacher involved!

You can take almost anything that is a passion for you and tie it to the curriculum
– it doesn’t have to be backpacking, but that’s my passion
– any adventure can apply!
– large or small, your students will appreciate them all

Research is the easiest means to apply any trip to your curriculum; however, as a co-curricular unit you can really run wild and share the workload
– take 2 minutes and think of a passion you have and how you might be able to apply it to your classroom

This really comes down to authentic learning

MY COMMENT: THIS INSPIRES ME TO WORK ON OUTDOOR CAMP THIS YEAR FOR CLASSEN SAS!